The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Seven members of the outlawed 'Purba Banglar Communist Party' were sentenced to life-term rigorous imprisonment by a trial tribunal here on Monday in the sensational three-murder case of Faridpur upazila of Pabna district around four and half years back.

Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge ATM Mesbauddowla found the convicts guilty under Sections 302/34 of BPC and handed down the verdict in a crowded courtroom.

The tribunal also fined them Taka 10,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment.

The convicts are identified as Abdul Hannan alias Faruque, Golzar Hossain, Fashiruddin, Joynal Abedin, Anis, Delwar Hossain and Abdul Malek. Excepting Abdul Hannan, all the convicts have been absconding since the killing incident. All are the residents of the same upazila.

Eight other accused of the case- Habibullah, Azimuddin, Nobab, Sujan, Abdur Rahman, Bablu, Dulal and Abdur Razzaque were acquitted, as the murder charge brought against them could not be proved.

The prosecution story, in brief, is that the convicts in association with some of their accomplices slaughtered three members of another outlaw faction identified as Ilu Fakir, Nazrul Islam and Moznu Pramanik on the spot at Hatigardi beel under the same Faridpur upazila while they were fishing in the beel in the early hours on December 25, 2003. Thereafter, they left the place chanting various slogans in support of the outlawed party.

A case had been recorded with Faridpur police station in this connection on the following day. After completing investigation police pressed charges accusing 15 of them.

The court examined 15 prosecution witnesses and other relevant evidence and finally handed down the judgment.

Special Public Prosecutor Sheikh Jahangir Alam Selim conducted the case on behalf of the state while Advocate Abu Bakar Siddique with assistance from some of his colleagues defended the accused.